The Wurzels, a late goal and a point

Last updated : 23 September 2007 By Tony Scholes
Andy Gray
Andy Gray - gave us the lead early in the second half
Two Darren Byfield goals in the last ten minutes of the game had turned things against us but the overhead goal from the hugely impressive Carlisle rescued a point to keep the Clarets in sixth place.

It is eight years since we were last at Ashton Gate and little has changed, we are still on backless seats with a less than brilliant view behind the goal in the Wedlock Stand. Something else is still the same, it is very traditional and has a traditional atmosphere, and that was confirmed just before kick off with the announcement: "We don't need music here, we generate our own atmosphere." I hope those responsible for the current Turf Moor nonsense heard that, and I hope they noted just how good the atmosphere was inside the ground.

The only break to the tradition was the playing of a Bristol City song before the game, previously recorded by The Wurzels in 1977 to celebrate their promotion to the old First Division. They have re-released it and we were treated to them enjoying a walk around the Ashton Gate pitch. The re-release is to raise funds and awareness for the BUI Prostate Cancer Appeal - so well done to Bristol City and the Wurzels.

To the football, and for the Clarets there were no changes. It was the same eleven who started at Hillsborough and the same five substitutes. That meant Chris McCann had passed a fitness test but there were less than three minutes gone when I wondered just whether he should be out there as he pulled up and clutched his hamstring.

It was a fairly quiet opening to the game, neither side were able to create much although I thought we were the more productive of the two teams. However, with just twenty minutes gone our rhythm was disrupted as McCann, having again clutched his hamstring, finally went down and this time a stretcher was called with Joey Gudjonsson coming on to fill his place in the centre of midfield.

That was probably the most memorable moment of a disappointing first half where neither goalkeeper was troubled much. Gabor Kiraly made one save to his left and watched a header go wide whilst Adriano Basso in front of the Burnley fans had little more to do although did manage to get himself a neck injury doing it.

As we came out for the second half there was another change with John Spicer coming on for Kyle Lafferty, with Elliott going onto the left and Spicer taking the right sided midfield position. There'd been no sign of any injury so this was more likely a tactical change, and no doubt Burnley were much better at the start of the second half and it led to us taking the lead.

Robbie Blake was the architect as he found Wade who hit his shot against the inside of the post. Andy Gray was the first to get there and turned it in for his sixth goal of the season and the Clarets were in front.

We might have even doubled that lead soon after as Robbie went on an amazing run before dragging his shot just wide to the keeper's right and after a good ball through from Robbie to Wade he set up Gudjonsson for a shot which again went just wide.

At this stage the home side were hardly threatening at all. Lee Trundle went down a couple of times but referee Thorpe had finally had enough and showed him the yellow card for diving. What a pity when he did it a few minutes later, the assistant was conned. It led to a free kick on the edge of the box which was dealt with but could so easily have led to Trundle, a sorry looking figure, being sent off.

Ade came on in our last change. He got the usual reception from the Burnley fans who perhaps were surprised to see him receiving a similar welcome from the other three sides of the ground. The home fans had given their former striker some good applause ahead of the game but this was even better.

Quite how the game changed I don't know. I don't think we sat back and let them come on to us, probably more that they had nothing to lose and pushed more men forward. Then a left wing cross from McIndoe was met by Byfield who gave Kiraly no chance with header into the corner.

I was stunned, I really thought we had this game won, but worse was to come. The otherwise disappointing Bradley Orr got in a shot with Gabor did well to get down to, but the rebound dropped to Byfield and we were staring defeat in the face.

This was going to be a difficult defeat to take and we certainly didn't deserve it. The fourth official held the board up for three extra minutes and there were surely at least two of them gone when Ade won a vital header in their box and Carlisle magnificently equalised with an overhead kick.

Some thought it was Carlisle, some thought it was Gray, I was quickly put right and Carlisle confirmed it as he came back towards the Burnley fans celebrating. We even got forward again after that through Ade but the whistle blew and we'd got a point.

Is it a point gained, or is it two points dropped? You can look at it both ways. I really didn't think Bristol City would get back into it but once they had I was mightily relieved to get that point. A point away is a good point, so for me it is very much a case of a point gained.

It wasn't our best performance of the season by any means and, despite conceding two goals, I thought our best two players were our two central defenders. I was giving Clarke Carlisle my man of the match even before he got his first Burnley goal.

One special mention for the referee too. I was worried about this particular official having seen his previous Burnley games. It might not have been the most difficult of games to referee, there might not have been many contentious decisions, but if every referee went about his business as Mike Thorpe did then we'd have very few problems. Well done to him.

Sixth after six games, only two of them played at home and we've got a game in hand. I think we would have settled for that when we got underway last month. Now let's go and make the most from our home games.

The teams were;

Bristol City: Adriano Basso, Bradley Orr, Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Jamie McAllister, Brian Wilson (Darren Byfield 45), Lee Johnson, Marvin Elliott, Michael McIndoe, Lee Trundle (Cole Skuse 88), Ivan Sproule (Tamas Vasko 78). Subs not used: Chris Weale, Scott Murray.

Burnley: Gabor Kiraly, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Graham Alexander, Chris McCann (Joey Gudjonsson 20), Kyle Lafferty (John Spicer 45), Robbie Blake (Ade Akinbiyi 75), Andy Gray. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, David Unsworth.

Referee: Mike Thorpe (Suffolk).

Attendance: 14,079 (including 989 Burnley fans).